When Ben Franklin was the ambassador to France for the newly independent United States of America, his quick wit and well-thought wisdom opened many doors for him and for this new country. At one dinner in 1781 where the guest list included the powers of the day, the French foreign secretary began the dinner with a toast to King Louis XVI, "To His Majesty, King Louis, the Sun, whose shining presence radiates the earth of France."

Not to be outdone, the British ambassador rose with the toast, "To King George the Third, the Moon, whose brilliance lights up the skies of Britain."

With a twinkle in his eye, the venerable Ben Franklin slowly rose and said, "I cannot give you the sun nor the moon, but I give you General George Washington of the United States, the Joshua who made the Sun and Mo…